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I refer to Terry from Dromore and his remarks on Umpires. Some good points but I personally feel that it would be for the love of the game rather than money that attracts many of my colleagues to turn out. Money is a marvellous incentive but it is not a major factor in attracting new umpires. In an ideal world umpires would be paid similar to referees in Irish League Premier League but with little money out there to spare this is a non starter. People often ask me as as scorer about payment from clubs for scoring but it too like umpiring is something that you enjoy doing. Yes I have been paid travelling expenses but never a fee for a match. On the question of membership fees umpires rarely grumble about this and when it came to buying their smart new uniforms few were unhappy to pay. We are living on an island where the economic downturn had created many problems for all and it would be nice for NIACUS to seek what Terry has stated but we will press for Umpires who will come and take part and not seek to promise the world to them. What I can say is that when one looks at the achievements of Mark Hawthorne and Richard Smith there is a wonderful opportunity for those wishing to better themselves and be recognised for their ability. I cannot forget others such as Alan Neill, Noel McCarey and Keith Smith who have all excelled and have been recognised by the ICC. So being an Umpire is not as dull as people make out. As Secretary of NIACUS we are proud of our members and their achievements and will continue to provide officials for matches at all levels but we do require more volunteers and it is something that the Cricket Authorities must address sooner rather than later.

Any more player transfer or new pro's in section 1 that anyone knows of? Or any rumours?

Cliftonville Cricket Club will be holding a 5-week under 13 & under 15 Cricket Camp at the new indoor facilities at University of Ulster Jordanstown Campus (UUJ). Starting on Tuesday 12th Feb from 18:30 - 20:00. The cost of the 5-week course is only £10 and is open to both boys and girls regardless of cricketing ability. If you require any further information or to reserve a place please do not hesitate in contacting Andy McCulloch, CDO on 078 8308 5112.

Well spoken Terry!
If I read you right the umpires need to be paid a fair fee, no fees for sitting exams and get some of their gear provided. It doesn't seem unreasonable and I would add that clubs who supply umpires should receive a discount on their affiliation fees.
All the money shouldn't go to the players.

Thanks Andy, don't forget to include the 'Vale spider' in your article. I have a picture of the beast.

At this time of the year, every year,we mostly read two topics on the forum namely what players are moving clubs and the shortage of umpires. It is possible some players move in the hope of gaining more experience elsewhere, however if we are totally honest most move to receive more money and other perks. We have already read on the forum this year that some seem to be moving for considerable sums of money and even the possibility of job offers and cars. What is the local game coming to? We hear clubs are struggling financially yet there seems to be loads of money around some clubs who are offering big bucks to gain promising players. What a sad situation.
What are many clubs going to do when there are no umpires available to cover games and players have to umpire games themselves not just in lower leagues but in senior cricket as well ? Have clubs considered that whilst they are splashing loads of money around paying players the umpires are being asked to stand week in week out for possibly as long as a 10 hour day ( including travelling ) for a pittance of around �25 per game ( even less I understand for a 20/20 game) Is it therefore any surprise we cannot attract people to become umpires - some may say those who umpire do it for the love of the game and this may apply to a few, however let's be realistic most who umpire I assume do it because they enjoy it but also for money. Why don't clubs and the NCU propose,accept and agree umpires must be paid a realistic fee for the work the do and not the buttons they are currently paid. There is lots of money around the clubs who get umpires for all their games so let them use some of it to pay the match officials a decent fee. Look at what premier league football referees are paid for 90 minutes work and compare this to umpires for 10 hours work !! Its time to wake up before it's too late - I guess if umpires were paid more we might just attract more people to take it up so why don't we try this.
With the present structure who in their right mind would want to become an umpire? They have to first pay to take the umpires course ( it should be free) then when they qualify I assume they have to buy all their own gear/coats/shirts/bails etc.and pay I assume a membership fee to NIACUS and possibly other bodies as well all for the pittance of the fee currently paid. As well they have to often suffer abuse from players and other officials and sometimes the media,press, twitter etc. when all they are trying to do is help keep cricket alive and give it their support.
It's time players and clubs realised the serious situation faced without more umpires - something needs to be done fast before it is too late.
Come on clubs & players - get some of your members & ex players involved as umpires otherwise face the prospect that sooner rather than later you will be umpiring your own games and then the fun will begin.

that's right Alan - I remember that day well. Dungannon -v - Larne. Had a similar experience on a Sunday at Lisburn last season when there was a band concert at the nearby band-stand. Hard to keep still when Killaloe was played! Still have to send you that article on the changing facilities "enjoyed?" by us umpires at grounds all round the NCU area!

NIACUS are seeking expressions of interest from anyone wishing to attend our Annual Dinner this year. A final date and venue have still to be finalised. We appreciate that Dinners are slowly fading away from social calendars however we are proud of dinners where people have a chance to meet up and share their experiences and enjoy good company. If you are interested please do not hesitate to contact any member of our Executive Committee by Monday 11th February 2013.

Andy.
I remember umpiring with you at Dungannon when there was a silver band playing in the band stand. There was heaps of spectators (general public)that day, probably mostly in the line for ice cream ;0

Neil describes a possible scenario with "contracted" players - this has already happened in rugby where such players are "assigned" to clubs but because of squad sessions, etc. they never play for the club. The result is that we have big crowds at Ravenhill but the crowds at club games are a bit like "one man & his dog" - and we don't even get that at cricket games - with the notable exception of the Lurgan-v- Waringstown derbies. I had the pleasure of umpiring such a game a couple of seasons ago and was totally gob-smacked by the number of cars parked all round the ground. But as I say - very much the exception. If the All-Ireland proposals come to fruitition then it requires careful management. P.S. What about that Italy team hen?!!

Very valid points made in your piece Clarence re the money floating around local cricket at the moment. I am less concerned about the sums of money or how many people that are getting paid in certain teams, but more so the opportunities that are now not being afforded to young cricketers to play at the top level.

I believe there should be a quota on the number of Irish cricketers under a certain age that each team must play. In this way the young talent will be exposed playing with and against the top cricketers that are floating about.

I think it is very sad when young cricketers are forced to play 2nd 11 cricket or move to lower leagues to get a game when paid players come in and take their place for a year.

I completely agree with Neil's point that if you boast about your youth development there has to be a commitment to push the talent through your club to the top team.

I am obviously with a club where there is this conflict and by no means I am saying that we get the balance correct at all times but removing professionals or stopping paying players is not the solution. How to ever police whether or not individuals are getting paid is the biggest challenge with no solution in my opinion.

I remember watching in awe Roger Hughes the Australian professional at cregagh when I was 17 years old - To play with him week in week out bread confidence within the team and made us all play at a higher level - that is surely what you want young cricketers to experience.

Clarence,

Very interesting article on WILL LOCAL CRICKET GO DOWN THE MONEY DRAIN?

At the moment, I think the answer is sadly yes.

When you hear what is going on in local cricket.......the amount of overseas players with Irish passports being employed and the scenario of paying local Irish based players to play (or be your YDO), you wonder why clubs keep harping on about their youth sections being the life blood of their club.

It is in one way hypocritical of them because are these kids ever going to be given a chance at the highest level or will they just bat 9, 10 and 11 and never get a chance to bowl?

I can see the rational of bringing in a load of paid players if you were getting £50,000 for winning the league or cup but this is not the case in these islands.

I am not being critical of any specific club because my own club brought in an overseas Irish passport holder a few years ago and I think Lurgan was the first club to have two overseas players with Rahul Mankad and Rohan Shah playing in the same season in the 80's

When you hear that 80% of North West would consider doing a U turn on paying players, then you have got to wonder what state the NCU clubs will be in a few years time as they are going down the North West route at present.

One last thing is that if the ICU are pumping in money to have provincial teams playing on a regular basis, then maybe the way forward is for all the premier clubs to have a certain amount of regulation in relation to how many paid hands they are allowed....or will it not matter at all because in a few years time they may all be being paid for playing for the provincial teams on a full time basis and therefore the clubs will not need to pay them as they will never play for their clubs.

Malcolm Brodie
The man who made us sportsfans always to read newspapers from the BACK page!!
R.I.P.

Clarence raises some interesting points in his feature on the money "drain". I note particularly his fear of a "division" in local cricket but I would contend that such a divide already exists. As in the English Premiership so in the top Section in NCU - only one of a coterie 4 teams is going to win either title with the others far behind. And for those who rush to state otherwise I simply direct them to the gulf that exists between the various Divisions. There are clubs who will never achieve Premier status nor have a desire to do so. The result will be a continuing stagnation or indeed drop in the overall standards of the local game vis-a-vis 25 years ago. Voltaire wrote that "God is on the side of the big battalions". For NCU cricket substitute the word big for high spending. The signs are already out there in respect throughout sport as detailed by Hiler.

Very sorry to hear about Malcolm Brodie's death this morning, a superb journalist and speaker. Although passionate about football he was also a great cricket lover. I hope Clarence finds time to pen a few words of his experiences and meetings with the great man. May he rest in peace.